Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER), the independent student team behind the car currently codenamed ‘Bethany,’ hopes to provide the UK’s best ever performance in the 3000km endurance race.

The competition is fiercely contended with some of the university and corporate teams from across the globe that will convene in the Outback working on budgets of over £1 million.

By systematically reducing energy usage for each part of the car, CUER has created a vehicle capable of cruising at 60mph using the same power as a hairdryer. The car will weigh just 160kg and sports 6m2 of the world’s highest efficiency silicon solar cells.

Using extensive computer modelling and simulation, the aerodynamics, rolling resistance, weight and electrical efficiency have all been optimised to build a vehicle that uses up to 50 times less power than a normal petrol car and has potentially infinite range.

Under its solar skin, the racing car is simply an ultra-efficient electric vehicle, therefore the technologies used are theoretically applicable to the commercial electric cars that are beginning to appear on our roads.

This includes a 98 per cent efficient electric hub motor, control systems providing battery management and regenerative braking, lightweight mechanical design, and carbon fibre composite bodywork.

CUER’s team manager, Anthony Law, said: “At a time when the automotive industry is being forced to look at a low-carbon future, our vehicle demonstrates the enormous potential of electric vehicle technologies.

“Transportation currently accounts for around 35 per cent of the UK’s energy use so this is obviously an area in which we can have a big impact on climate change.” Bethany is an upgrade of the prototype ‘Affinity’, which became the first solar-powered car to drive legally on UK roads and was driven from Lands End to John O’Groats in June 2008.

The team is now part way into the manufacture of the new World Solar Challenge ‘09 car. Technical director, Charlie Watt, said: “Manufacture is progressing well and we hope to have a finished car by June, leaving us time for extensive testing in the run up to the race.”